Springfield-Branson National Airport touts 2012 growth

Last edited 12:36 p.m., March 14, 2012

Through February, the Springfield-Branson National Airport reported 103,752 passengers, a 10 percent increase compared to 94,311 total passengers in the first two months of 2011. The early 2012 figures returned closer to 2010 levels, when the airport reported 100,575 passengers during January and February.

“It shows that even in a constantly changing and challenging airline environment, there is strong passenger demand in Springfield," Director of Aviation Brian Weiler said in a news release.

All four of the airlines that utilize the airport, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, have reported 2012 increases in passengers at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

The early increases follow a tough year for the airport, which experienced an 8.1 percent drop in passengers during 2011.

During the year, the airport recorded 731,395 passengers, down from 796,251 in 2010. Airport officials attribute the decrease to a drop in the number of available seats, which were down 21.5 percent to 463,049 during the year from 589,667 in 2010, according to the release.

“Last year the airlines cut costs by shrinking their route systems to respond to the recession and high fuel prices," Weiler said in the release. "Airlines cannot afford to fly around empty seats and many airports across the country saw a decline in available seats.

“But these recent growth numbers may be a sign we’ve bottomed out and growth will continue.”

According to the release, the airlines appear to be bumping up services this year. Allegiant has added seven flights to its March schedule in Springfield, and it is now using a larger 166-seat aircraft for its Phoenix and Los Angeles routes. Delta added a fourth daily flight to Atlanta during February, and United plans to add a fourth daily route to Denver in April.

“We think the airlines are probably done cutting in Springfield,” said Kent Boyd, airport marketing director, in the release. “But that could change if fuel prices spike later this year.”